University Committee Meeting Minutes 2026-06-29

Minutes for June 29, 2026

UC members present: de Leon, Haynes, Johnson, Kendall, Mathieu, Johnson

Others present: Greg Bump, Michelle Felber, Becky Jacobs, Erynn Kletzien, Mallory Musolf, Jennifer Noyes

Chair Kendall called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.

Ben Fisher, faculty member of the Police Advisory Council, shared information about his experience. They meet monthly, and the agenda is set by Chief Plisch and the student chair of the anti-violence group. There is typically a presentation followed by questions/answers. This past year has been spent getting members up to speed on issues affecting police departments. Ben indicated that someone is spending time this summer looking at citizen advisory boards at other universities.

Julie Scharm, Deputy Secretary of the Faculty, presented a proposal for changing the annual committee report process. The proposal would no longer require committee chairs to present every year at Faculty Senate, but rather oral reports to Senate would be based on requests from senators, the committees and the University Committee. All annual reports would be read into the record.

The University Committee discussed un or under-represented senate districts. The UC will discuss un-represented districts with the SMPH dean during her visit in August. April will draft an email that can be sent to department chairs for these districts.

The minutes for June 15, 2026, were approved by consent.

The University Committee decided to cancel the UC meeting scheduled for Yom Kippur. They also would like to invite the Office of Compliance to a UC meeting to discuss Hostile and Intimidating Behavior process.

Provost John Zumbrunnen discussed ways they measure student thriving across all different groups of students including academic measures, first destination survey for graduating seniors, and the WI experience report, which includes participation in high impact practices. It is difficult to measure a sense of belonging.

Provost Zumbrunnen indicated some people are using the HIB process when they have not had success addressing issues elsewhere. This is a reason to focus on supervision and leadership, which is the project Patrick Sheehan and Kent Weigel are leading.

The Provost and the UC discussed a shared interest in examining undergraduate education and graduate education on campus.

Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots shared information regarding the pipe rupture, which has shut down the Charter St plant for cooling. The 48-inch pipe is 20 feet below the surface. The repair is expected to take 4 weeks. Their priority is human safety, research enterprise and animal safety. To reduce pressure on the system, they are turning off cooling and closing 26 campus buildings.

In regard to the Vice Chancellor for Research reorganization, the research landscape is changing rapidly, and the campus needs better infrastructure for dealing with larger multiple campus grant opportunities. There was discussion about the University Committee’s concerns and how Vice Chancellor Grejner-Brzezinska was working to identify and addresses issues of concern, especially with the arts and humanities.

De Leon motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(a)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers and grievances at 3:05 pm. Four tenure clock extensions were approved.

Mathieu motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 3:31 pm.

Sara McKinnon and Janet Branchaw, co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Undergraduate Education Committee shared that they reviewed all courses that added a CGER designation. They identified about 50 courses that don’t necessarily on their face fit into the category they were placed in. They discussed next steps with the University Committee. One suggestion was to approach department chairs for consultation and additional information.

Mathieu motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(a)(c) and (f) to discuss waivers and grievances at 4:11 pm.

Mathieu motioned, and it was seconded and approved, to reconvene in open session at 4:25 pm.

Kendall adjourned the meeting at 4:28 pm.

Minutes submitted by Heather Daniels, secretary of the faculty.